Highland man jailed for downloading information to make explosive device
A Conon Bridge man has been jailed for four months under the Terrorism Act for downloading information from the internet which showed how to prepare an improvised explosive device.
Dingwall Sheriff Court heard the matter came to light when council workers were installing a central heating system at the home of Iain Tait’s parents in Windsor Place.
His solicitor Eilidh Macdonald told the court her 26-year-old client had made it clear to social workers he was not prepared to pay a fine or carry out community service if that was the sentence of the court.
Tait admitted committing the offence between March 27, 2011 and March 10, 2012 at his home in Windsor Place.
Depute procurator fiscal Karen Smith said the council employees came across items in Tait’s bedroom which caused concern and they reported the matter to their managers and the police.
The fiscal said the police were contacted in July 2011. Some months later they obtained a warrant and removed a laptop computer from Tait’s bedroom. Before they went to the house, police had interviewed some of his friends.
Miss Macdonald said Tait had been unemployed since leaving school and most of his time was spent on his computer. She said he suffered epilepsy and had learning difficulties.
He had been examined by three psychiatrists and a psychologist but did not wish their reports to be considered by the court and he was not willing to pay a fine or do any unpaid work that the court might order him to do.
"He is a young man with difficulties which have never been identified or pigeon-holed. He is obviously a complex character who lives a very restricted lifestyle," she said.
"He does not understand why everyone is treating this matter so seriously and can’t understand why he should go to prison."
But the solicitor said she accepted the court was left with only one option and that was to send him to jail.
Sheriff Andrew Miller told Tait, a first offender, custody was the only option.
